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As we move closer to another presidential election in 2023, many Nigerians have started canvassing for diverse options and opinions on who becomes the next President of Nigeria, after President Muhammadu Buhari. While some are of the opinion that the position of the President should not be zoned to any particular geopolitical zone, many are of the view that the South East should be given a chance to produce the next President of Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari.
Recently, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, led by Prof George Obiozor, made it clear and also insisted that the South-east as a matter of equity and fairness should produce Buhari’s successor. In his statement to the press, he stated, “Nigeria will, above all, once again experience resurgence of nationalism with enthusiasm under a Nigerian President of South East extraction.” This assertion, however drives home the need for Nigerians to note that the Igbo's, as one of the major tribes in Nigeria needs to be supported in it's quest to lead Nigeria, going by the fact that other geopolitical zones since the inception of democratic governance in 1999 has held power at the center.
In the same vein, a coalition of over 45 civil society groups recently in the north under the umbrella of Concerned Arewa Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria insisted that the south-east should produce the country’s president in 2023.
Abdulsalam Mohammed, spokesman of the group, said zoning the presidency to the south-east will be in the interest of justice, equity fairness and national unity.
Also, Afenifere the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, have also backed the calls for the South East to produce the country’s next president, questioning those who think the region does not deserve the seat.
The leader of the group, Ayo Adebanjo, said this recently during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, he hinged his argument on federal character and equity. He said "while the South South and South West have tasted power at the centre, the same cannot be said of the Igbo-dominated South East."
It is however pertinent to note that a Nigerian President of South East Extraction remains sacrosanct at this point of our nationhood. However, since APC has zoned its Presidential ticket to the South, which comprises of South East, South West and South South, its only the South East that hasn't produced the President, since the inception of democratic governance in 1999.
It's on this premise, that Young Nigerian Voices, a group of young Nigerians with over 5 million members across the country is joining Ohaneze Ndigbo worldwide and other well meaning Nigerians to advocate for a Nigerian President of South East extraction, as it remains a fundamental ingredient for national unity, as the current state of the nation underscores the importance for this quest.
We are of the candid view, that a Nigerian President of South East extraction will send a strong message to Igbo people and Nigerians at large which will help balance the power equation in the country.
Young Nigerian Voices, therefore urge the major political parties to discard the notion of prejudices against Igbo's and support the emergence of a common front to move the nation forward. Nigerians should also note that there is no better time for Nigerian politicians to embrace patriotism and political wisdom and jettison personal and selfish ambition for the development of our dear country.
As a group, having accessed the options before us, we recommend that the APC nominate Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba for the Presidential ticket of the party. This is so going by the fact that he has the sagacity, energy and forthrightness to lead Nigeria. Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba since 1999 since the inception of democratic governance has played positive roles in the development of the Nigerian Nation. His antecedence speaks for him, his educational background is sound and his ability to harness human and natural resources is apt, as we have seen what he did at the national assembly when he represented his constituency. His stay at TETFUND was classical as he brought back sanity in the system which enabled the MDA become a formidable arm and backbone for educational insistuitions in the country. Also his stay at the federal ministry of education has also shown that he has passion for the development of the educational sector in Nigeria as education has been given a pride of place in the National Budget in recent times.
On this note we appeal to the APC, which is the ruling party in Nigeria today, to give credence to the calls by young Nigerians across the 36 states and the FCT to give it's Presidential ticket to a South Easterner. Besides giving it's ticket to a South Easterner, we also appeal to the rulling party to look the way of a Young Nigerian who can weather the storm currently being experienced in the country.
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